Behind the Lights

The Extraordinary Adventure of a Mum and Her Family

By: Helen Smallbone, Lisa Stilwell, Rebecca St. James - foreword, David Smallbone

Narrated by: Helen Smallbone, Rebecca St. James, David Smallbone

Christian Book Award - Finalist 2023 (print)!!

In this inspiring debut memoir, Helen Smallbone, mother of seven creative children―including Christian music artists for KING & COUNTRY and Rebecca St. James―chronicles the family’s journey of faith across the ocean to go where God was leading. Written from a mother’s perspective, Helen shares stories of peaks, valleys, and a family trusting God for provision.

Helen Smallbone’s heartfelt story illustrates what it means to really let God lead, which almost always means living outside the box of how the world says to live. How did an ordinary Australian family produce two Grammy Award–winning artists―Rebecca St. James and for KING & COUNTRY? What happened to bring the Smallbones through closed doors and to new beginnings in the United States? In Behind the Lights, Helen shares not only these stories of her family but of the life lessons they all learned along the way.

In 1991 Helen and her husband, David, packed up their family and sixteen suitcases to move from Australia to the United States. Completely isolated from the support of family and friends, they relied on God to provide them with hope and direction. Helen watched her children join forces as Rebecca St. James’ career grew, soon followed by blossoming careers for the others―as artists, entrepreneurs, filmmakers―and the rise of Joel and Luke’s for KING & COUNTRY on Christian music charts. Helen shares untold stories and insights into how her family worked and stuck together, constantly relying on their faith to guide the way. Helen’s journey includes:

• meeting her future husband with a cockatoo on her shoulder

• the family’s move to the states in blind faith

• the kindness of neighbors and the local church that gave them the encouragement they so desperately needed

• years of touring alongside Rebecca and the formation of for KING & COUNTRY

• the ways God led and enabled her to homeschool and think about education differently

• an inside look at the stories and dynamics of the entire Smallbone family

No matter where you are in life, Helen shows through her own experiences that what God has done in her life, He will do in yours, too.

©2022 Helen Smallbone, Lisa Stilwell, Rebecca St. James, David Smallbone (P)2022 One Audiobooks

Truly Encouraging Strong Faith Story

Very encouraging and uplifting. I agree with most things Helen Smallbones mentioned in her story Her family’s stories of faith through hard times and their growth in the Lord strongly encourage us to go deeper in JESUS

Inspirational book about family and faith

I enjoyed every word of this book. Helen Small one shares her story in an engaging way. They had joys and sorrows, successes and failures - but handled them through faith in God and al! working together. They also had community that served as a strength for them. We all need the give and take of community as well as family.

Bravo 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

This was extraordinary!!! The Good Lord has blessed and truly worked and continues to work through this family… Thank you for giving of yourselves to His Glory and giving us all hope… I’ve passed this book on to my sister who made me a proud Aunt to her 7 children. And I will continue to pass it on!
God Bless you guys!!!♥️

Her honesty and vulnerability.

I love her honesty and vulnerability, and I have loved watching this family’s, faith being strengthened, time and time again by walking through challenges. Their honesty has helped me feel less alone during my dark times,and I’m so grateful for the journey/testimony they have shared with all of us‼️

What a wonderful story

I felt like I was listening to my own life story. I cried like I haven't done since the passing of my baby brother 11 years ago because I was so touched by this story. I definitely recommend this to anyone.